Crawlers

ABSTRACT

Crawlers is a padded device with a fastening mechanism for placement around a child&#39;s knees. The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a fabric panel with padding inside, a figure on the outer layer of the fabric panel with a flap on top for insertion of a noisemaker, a velcro hook strip and a velcro loop strip on opposite ends of the fabric panel and a frill layer on top and bottom of the fabric panel. To use the preferred embodiment of the invention, a person will simply line up the front of the fabric panel (the side having the figure) with the front of the child&#39;s bare or clothed knees. The back of the fabric panel is positioned along the back of the knee with the device being securely attached by means of the velcro hook strip and velcro loop strip. The child is then free to crawl. The foam padding within the fabric panel prevents the child&#39;s knees from getting sore while crawling. The noisemaker helps encourage the child to crawl due to the entertaining sound it emits while also letting parents know where the child is at all times by listening for the sound. If noise during crawling is not desirable, the parents may open the flap on the figure and remove the noisemaker.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional Patent Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/853,119 entitled “Crawlers” filed on Oct. 20, 2006.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to the baby and child accessories industry. The invention discussed herein is in the general classification of crawling devices for children.

BACKGROUND

Every parent looks forward to their child's first steps. However, most children have to crawl before they walk. Unfortunately, the act of crawling can be painful for a child. A child's knees are unaccustomed to being worked in such a manner and can become sore, especially after crawling on hard surfaces. Abrasions often form on a child's knees from repeated crawling on hard or jagged surfaces.

Some parents attempt to cushion their child's knees with self-made padding to prevent this type of injury. Padding often is taped onto a child's knees or put on with some other ineffective fastening mechanism. As a result, the padding comes off of the child's knees easily. It also often does not cover the entirety of the child's knees.

Hence, there is a need in the art for a convenient to use, inexpensive and durable device for protecting a child's knees when he crawls while also encouraging him to crawl.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Crawlers is a padded device with a fastening mechanism for placement around a child's knees.

The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a fabric panel with padding inside, a figure on the outer layer of the fabric panel with a flap on top for insertion of a noisemaker, a velcro hook strip and a velcro loop strip on opposite ends of the fabric panel and a frill layer on top and bottom of the fabric panel.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device that protects a child's knees from abrasion or injury during crawling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that covers and protects a child's knees in their entirety and not just a portion of them.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that encourages a child to crawl due to the noisemaker placed inside the padding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is aesthetically pleasing to the child due to the figure placed on the outside of the padding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that allows parents to easily monitor the location of their child based on the sound emanating from the noisemaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that can easily be attached to a baby's knees.

Another object of this invention is to provide an affordable device for protecting a child's knees from abrasion or injury during crawling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a durable device for protecting a child's knees from abrasion or injury during crawling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a safe device for protecting a child's knees from abrasion or injury during crawling.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a reliable device for protecting a child's knees from abrasion or injury during crawling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention cut along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of Crawlers is comprised of at least some of the following: a fabric panel with padding inside, a figure on the outer layer of the fabric panel with a flap on top for insertion of a noisemaker, a velcro hook strip and a velcro loop strip on opposite ends of the fabric panel and a frill layer on top and bottom of the fabric panel.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. A fabric panel 1 that is approximately rectangular can be rolled together and connected via a velcro hook strip 2 and a velcro loop strip 3. The exact dimensions of the fabric panel 1 are not critical to the invention but it should be long enough and wide enough to fit around and cover the entirety of a baby's knee.

Other fastening mechanisms besides the velcro hook strip 2 and velcro loop strip 3 may also be utilized to connect the ends of the fabric panel 1. The velcro hook strip 2 is located on one end and side of the fabric panel 1 and the velcro loop strip 3 is located on the opposite end and side of the fabric panel 1. The velcro hook strip 2 and the velcro loop strip 3 of this preferred embodiment extend from approximately the top of the fabric panel 1 to the bottom of the fabric panel 1 to provide maximum fastening surface area to prevent the fabric panel 1 from coming off the child's knee during crawling. The velcro hook strip 2 and the velcro loop strip 3 are one inch in width in this preferred embodiment to allow the fabric panel 1 to fit snuggly around a variety of baby's knees.

The fabric panel 1 has an outer layer 4 that is durable to prevent it from damage during use. The inner layer 5 of the fabric panel 1 is made of soft cotton in this preferred embodiment to prevent damage to the baby's knee during use.

Foam rubber is located within the fabric panel 1 between the outer layer 4 and the inner layer 5. Other cushioning material may also be utilized inside the fabric panel 1.

On the outer layer 4 of the fabric panel 1, a FIG. 6 of a cartoon character or other item of interest to a baby is present. A flap 7 is located on the stomach of the FIG. 6 to allow placement of a noisemaker inside the FIG. 6. The flap 7 also allows easy removal of the noisemaker should it become undesirable to a parent or other caregiver. The noisemaker emits a high-pitched noise, similar to a squeak, when pressed. Air let into the noisemaker causes this sound to occur when it is let back out during the act of crawling. The FIG. 6 is positioned on the front of the child's knee to make contact with the ground during the act of crawling.

A frill layer 8 is located on top and bottom of the fabric panel 1. This frill layer 8 is merely decorative in this preferred embodiment. However, in alternative embodiments, this frill layer can be elastic to allow the fabric panel 1 to be more securely fastened around a child's knee.

Other alternative embodiments may utilize four square panels paired and sewn together to form two solid units. The two solid units are then connected together by means of a velcro strip on each side to form the fabric panel.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention cut along the line A-A of FIG. 1. The foam rubber 20 can be seen inside the inner layer 5 and outer layer 4 of the fabric panel. The frill layer 8 on top and bottom is also visible in this cross-section.

To use the preferred embodiment of the invention, a person will simply line up the front of the fabric panel (the side having the figure) with the front of the child's bare or clothed knees. The back of the fabric panel is positioned along the back of the knee with the device being securely attached by means of the velcro hook strip and velcro loop strip. The child is then free to crawl. The foam padding within the fabric panel prevents the child's knees from getting sore while crawling. The noisemaker helps encourage the child to crawl due to the entertaining sound it emits while also letting parents know where the child is at all times by listening for the sound. If noise during crawling is not desirable, the parents may open the flap on the figure and remove the noisemaker.

The components of Crawlers may vary widely but will likely use cotton, velcro, foam rubber and plastic components.

The plastic used in the production will ideally be selected for durability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly used in the manufacturing of components similar to those used in this invention. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar thermoplastic materials would be among those with the necessary traits. Members of this family are recognized universally as being versatile and of high quality.

The plastic components of Crawlers can also be formed with the use of plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding or blow molding. Injection molding requires melted plastic to be forcefully injected into relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for the mass production of products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form of extrusion, could be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube being pushed into a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube against the cold walls of the mold.

It should be obvious that the components of the present invention can be of various shapes and sizes. It should also be obvious that the components of the invention can be made of different types of suitable materials and can be of any color.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims. 

1. A baby device comprising: (a) a fabric panel; (b) a fastening mechanism on the fabric panel; and (c) a cushioning material located within the fabric panel.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the fabric panel is approximately rectangular.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the fastening mechanism is a velcro hook strip and a velcro loop strip wherein the velcro hook strip is located on one end and side of the fabric panel and the velcro loop strip is located on the opposite end and side of the fabric panel.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the velcro hook strip and the velcro loop strip extend from approximately the top of the fabric panel to the bottom of the fabric panel.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the fabric panel has an outer layer that is durable and an inner layer that is soft.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cushioning material is foam rubber.
 7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a figure on the fabric panel.
 8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a flap located on the figure.
 9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a noisemaker inside the figure beneath the flap.
 10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first frill layer located on the top of the fabric panel and a second frill layer located on the bottom of the fabric panel.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the first frill layer and the second frill layer contain elastic material.
 12. A baby device comprising: (a) a fabric panel that is approximately rectangular; (b) a velcro hook strip located on one end and side of the fabric panel and extending from approximately the top to the bottom of the fabric panel and a velcro loop strip located on the opposite end and side of the fabric panel and extending from approximately the top to the bottom of the fabric panel; (c) a cushioning material located within the fabric panel; (d) a figure on the fabric panel; (e) a flap located on the figure; (f) a noisemaker inside the figure beneath the flap; and (g) a first frill layer containing elastic material located on the top of the fabric panel and a second frill layer containing elastic material located on the bottom of the fabric panel. 